When one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious orchestras—the Staatskapelle Dresden—joins forces with electrifying conductor Daniele Gatti and rising piano star Bruce Liu, you know it’s going to be something unforgettable. As part of the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, they’ll perform two contrasting, but deeply rooted programs that reflect the ensemble’s rich musical heritage. Expect brilliance, depth, and emotion across both nights.

As a featured performance in the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Daniele Gatti will lead the Staatskapelle Dresden in two concerts with contrasting styles—both deeply tied to the orchestra’s historic roots.

On November 4, the program is a journey across cultures and eras: from the rarely heard Requiem for Strings by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu to the grandeur of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor.

Then on November 5, after opening with Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, the orchestra will join forces with Bruce Liu, the sensational winner of the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition, to perform Mozart’s lyrical Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major. The evening concludes with Richard Strauss’s epic Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life)—a deeply personal nod to the orchestra’s century-old connection with the composer.

About Staatskapelle Dresden

The Staatskapelle Dresden is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the world, steeped in centuries of musical tradition. Founded in 1548 by Prince Moritz of Saxony, the ensemble has been an inseparable part of Dresden’s royal court and theaters. Today, the orchestra still performs approximately 250 opera and ballet productions and 50 symphonic and chamber concerts each season at the Semperoper. In 2024/2025, Daniele Gatti becomes the new Chief Conductor.

Throughout its history, the orchestra has collaborated with legendary figures such as Heinrich Schütz, Johann Adolph Hasse, Carl Maria von Weber, and Richard Wagner—who once called the orchestra his “magic harp.” Richard Strauss maintained a bond with the orchestra for over 60 years, premiering nine of his operas in Dresden and dedicating An Alpine Symphony to them. To this day, the Staatskapelle continues to debut new works by contemporary composers such as Hans Werner Henze, Sofia Gubaidulina, Wolfgang Rihm, György Kurtág, and others.

Conductor: Daniele Gatti

Daniele Gatti officially takes up his post as Chief Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden in August 2024, beginning a new chapter in their long-standing collaboration. He first conducted the orchestra in 2000 at the invitation of then-chief Giuseppe Sinopoli and has returned many times since. Known for his insightful interpretations and sensitivity to the orchestra’s historic sound, Gatti will undertake an ambitious project in his debut season: conducting the complete symphonies of Gustav Mahler with the orchestra for the first time in its history.

In addition to his role in Dresden, Gatti is also Chief Conductor of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Music Director of the Orchestra Mozart. Since 2016, he has served as Artistic Advisor to the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

Gatti is equally acclaimed in the opera world, having led major productions such as Parsifal (Bayreuth Festival 2008), Elektra, La Bohème, Die Meistersinger, and Il trovatore at the Salzburg Festival. He has also opened seasons at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma with works by Berlioz, Verdi, Rossini, and others. In 2025, he will return to Bayreuth to conduct a new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Pianist: Bruce Liu

Bruce Liu became an international sensation in 2021 when he won First Prize at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. BBC Music Magazine described his playing as “spellbindingly beautiful,” a quality that distinguishes him among today’s most gifted young pianists.

Named a 2024 "Spotlight Artist" at Germany’s Rheingau Music Festival, Liu performed five concerts there, including recitals, chamber music, and concerto appearances with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra. His 2024/2025 season includes tours with the Luxembourg Philharmonic (Gustavo Gimeno), London Symphony Orchestra (Sir Antonio Pappano), Frankfurt Radio Symphony (Alain Altinoglu), Vienna Symphony (Marie Jacquot), Orchestre National de France (Cristian Măcelaru), and Rotterdam Philharmonic (Lahav Shani). He also tours as both soloist and conductor with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

Liu has performed at prestigious venues such as BOZAR in Brussels, Wigmore Hall in London, Philharmonie de Paris, and Tokyo Opera City. This season, he returns to Carnegie Hall, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and makes his solo debuts at the Vienna Musikverein and Munich’s Prinzregententheater. He also appears at leading festivals including the Ruhr Piano Festival, Aix-en-Provence, Aspen, Tanglewood, Verbier, La Roque d’Anthéron, Edinburgh International Festival, and Gstaad Menuhin Festival.

Program

• Jazz & Concerts